Blackjack
The name 'blackjack' refers to a winning hand in the original French game of 'vingt et un'. This hand consisted of the jack of spades and the ace of spades together, hence the name, blackjack.

In order to win blackjack, a player must accumulate cards with a point value up to 21. The winning hand must be the closest to 21, but can not go over it. The numbered cards, from 2 – 10, are counted at numerical value, while the ace can be played as either a 1 or an 11. Face cards, Jacks, Queens and Kings, are all worth a value of 10. Suites (Spades, Hearts, Clubs and Diamonds) do not play
any role in modern blackjack.

A blackjack table can seat up to six players, with either six or eight decks of cards being held in the 'shoe.' Players must place their bets before receiving any cards, and then they are dealt two cards face up. The dealer, whom the player must beat to win, is also dealt two cards, one facing up and the other down.

Once the cards are dealt a player must decide whether to 'stay' or 'hit'. If a player choses to stay that means he is satisfied with his current hand and will not take any more cards. On the other hand when a player chooses to hit he is then asking for more cards.

Once the players have made their decisions it is time for the dealer to turn over his down card. Dealers play by special rules, if the dealer's hand has a value of 17 or higher he/she must stay. If the dealers hand is 16 or lower, he must hit. Once the dealer has played his/her hand, the game has ended and a new game can begin after new bets are placed.